Leamy a doubt for Edinburgh clash

DENIS LEAMY is a doubtful starter for Munster’s return to RaboDirect Pro12 action this weekend when the province faces Edinburgh at Thomond Park on Saturday night (8.30pm).

Back rower Leamy, who made telling contributions off the bench in both of Munster’s opening Heineken Cup pool victories over Northampton Saints and Castres in the past fortnight, took a bang on the hip, causing “nothing more than bruising” according to Munster spokesman Pat Geraghty.

Leamy appeared at Donncha O’Callaghan’s book launch in Cork on Tuesday night walking with crutches. While he is set to be named today in an extended squad for the weekend, he has been described as an unlikely participant against Michael Bradley’s Edinburgh side.

Otherwise, and excluding Munster’s long-term injured, Tony McGahan has a clean bill of health on his roster.

Peter O’Mahony took a knock in the second half in Toulouse during a crunching collision with Castres’ Joe Tekori but he has shown no ill effects. The squad to be announced after training today is expected to be a combination of the Heineken Cup and British & Irish Cup squads, both of which were victorious last weekend.

Meanwhile, Connacht forward Mike McCarthy will not be taking part in his province’s next two games, against Ospreys this Saturday and on December 2 against Treviso. McCarthy yesterday picked up a two-week ban after pleading guilty to an act of foul play against Toulouse wing Vincent Clerc during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool 6 match against Toulouse. McCarthy received a yellow card during the game but disputed that it warranted a red card. The Ireland back row/lock will be will available to play again in Heineken Cup round three, at home to Gloucester on December 10.

Leinster yesterday said farewell to lock Ed O’Donoghue, who has signed for London Wasps.